CHAPTER 2

Chantel’s Point of View

I live in the province, where there’s different kinds of flowers planted by my mother. She always believes that flowers could make the place more beautiful and aesthetic. Every Sunday, we pick different kind of flowers to make a bouquet, we sometimes sold it and sometimes, we’re just doing it for fun and put it on our vase.

As I was picking kinds of flowers, my mom called me, “Marigold! Hali ka na, kakain na nang tanghalian!” [ trans; Marigold! Come here, let’s eat our lunch! ]

I stood up and faced my mom, “I’m coming!” I answered and waved my hand to her while smiling.

The birds were chirping, my siblings were laughing and mom, there, she’s getting our table ready outside the house. We normally do this when it’s weekends, since family time is important.

I turned my back to them and faced the sun, shining so bright at me and smiled.

Weekend is life.

I took the flower I picked moment ago before coming towards our house. I removed my hat and kissed my mom. She then get the towel and she wiped my sweat on my face using it.

She smiled at me, “You’re so beautiful.”

“Of course, mom. I got my traits from you.”

She put the towel down and faced my siblings, “Zinnia, call your daddy. Tell him, I’ll kill him if he’ll say wait, alright?”

Zinnia nodded and joyfully went in our house. I’m the eldest, Zinnia is the second and Rose is the youngest. I sat down in my chair in front of the table, mom did the same too.

“When are you going back to the city?”

“I think, by Sunday? Or early in Monday?”

“Hmm, too early.”

“I’m sorry. You know, I really want this job, right? And mom, you know what my goal is, to go to France. I want to start my family there.”

“Oh right. I forgot, my daughter wants to save money.”

“Thank you, mom.”

“Yeah, whatever, honey. If that’s what you want.”

She hugged me, before dad came out of the house and joined us, together with my little siblings. We happily spend our time together. We’re full of laughter and love. To be with my family means, FREEDOM.

My family completes the puzzle in me. They are like my lost petals, they help me to go up high by supporting me. They help me embrace the beauty in me. They make me the happiest flower planted on earth.

I helped my mom clean the table when we’re done eating, and my two siblings helped her in washing the dishes. I fixed my dress before sitting in the pure clean green grass in front of our house. And in front of me, maybe a half kilometer away from me is the flowers dancing together with the winds. I put my hat back on my head and squatted my legs.

All I can do here in our place is rest and think. The environment helps me a lot. A fresh air, birds chirping, nice view of sunset and sunrise and I’m with my family.

“Look at my girl, isn’t she pretty? Why don’t you think my girl is incomplete? Wouldn’t you think I’m the dad, the dad who has everything.” I looked at my back when I heard my dad singing a song from a Disney movie, entitled, The Little Mermaid with a revised lyrics.

I laughed as he was actually making his hands his microphone. He also laughed before sitting beside me. “When are you going to have a husband? I really want to meet my grandchildren.”

“It’s not like it’s required to have a husband when you’re growing older, Pa. And also, it’s not like you’re gonna die.”

“Nice mindset.”

“Parents taught me that.”

“Why are you alone here??”

“Zinnia and Rose is helping mom to wash the plates. I already cleaned the table so.”

“You’re done picking flowers?”

“Yup. You? Are you done with your papers?”

“Uhm, not yet. I just saw you here alone so I thought of joining you but anyways, gotta go to finish it.”

He tapped my shoulders before standing up and going in our house. As time flies so fast, my siblings were playing again, and mom was on the table, drinking her tea and I am here, sitting between the flowers and watching the sun set.

My life is simple and I am contented. If I’m seeking for something, maybe my success, or is that really it?

Morning comes. I get up early and cooked breakfast for my family. I did my thing in the bathroom first, washed my face, and brushed my teeth before proceeding to our kitchen. I poured four cups of raw rice in the pot of the rice cooker and washed it two times before putting four cups of water. Then, I started wiping the wet out outside of the pot and put the pot on the rice cooker afterwards. I took 5 eggs and the bacon out of the refrigerator. Before starting anything else, I wore an apron.

I took the glass bowl out of the cupboard and started to break the first egg. I put the pan on the gas stove and put some olive oil in the pan. I waited until it gets heated and then I poured the egg in it and seasoned it with a pinch of salt, and while waiting for it to be cooked, I broke the second egg, and I repeated the action vice versa until all the eggs are fried,

and I started the bacon afterwards.

After cooking all the dishes, I prepared the table, and after the rice is already cooked. I, again, took out a glass bowl and put the rice there and put the bowl at the center of the table, and both sides are the two dishes.

I picked three white caped daisy with purple center outside of the house, and get back inside. I put it beside the plate of my mother. I took one pad of kitchen tissue and wrote the word, ‘happy mother’s day’ before placing it on top of her plate.

I guess, it’s all done.

“Ooh, you woke early to do this?”

“Hmm, yeah, Zinnia. It’s not much, anyway. It’s just a breakfast thing.”

She then came to me while yawning and hugged me, “Hmm. Good morning,” and then she go to the sink, “We’ll be leaving in Monday, I think.”

“Hmm? Tomorrow? Why?”

“School.”

“You’re finding a new school?”

“Yup,” she’s making a milk. A last year in high school, yet, still drinking a milk.

I faced her, “Did mom know?”

“Yup, I talked to her first before dad.”

“I see, so, you’re leaving this place?”

“Hmm, no,” she then drinks to her cup of milk, “Mom agreed to live in the city and we’ll just go home here in weekends.”

“How about Rose?”

“She’ll be homeschooled.”

“How will dad gonna pay for homeschool fee?”

“I don’t know but he agreed. It’s our mom thing.”

“Alright.”

I turned my back on her when she starts walking towards me, and leaned her back on the counter, just like what I did.

“I’ll help you find a school.”

“Hmm, thanks.”

“Look at your two sister, Rose. They’re beautiful, right?”

I looked at the guy who just said those words and I saw dad, carrying Rose and beside him is mom.

“You two prepared this?” mom said as she was walking towards the table.

“Nope, sis, did.” That’s Zinnia, she put her cup to the counter and go towards mom, and then she hugged and kissed her cheek, “Happy mother’s day, mommy.”

Mom hugged her back, “Thank you, darling.” And then she tapped Zinnia’s head.

Mom walks towards me and she also hugged me, “Thank you for this, dear,” I smiled as I hugged her back.

“It’s just breakfast, mommy,” I said. She broke the hug and she sat to her chair in the table. She saw the flower I placed beside her plate and smells it.

She’s almost crying.

Everyone sat to their seat around the table, and before I did the same, I kissed Rose on her cheeks and greeted her a good morning which she also did.

We celebrated our mother’s day happily. We individually danced with our mom with the song, Always Love You by Tori Kelly playing in our stereo.

And we can feel that she’s happy in this simple thing.